The corner of Summer and Washington Streets is now considered the most central
point in Boston, but it was not always so. Even in Civil War days, it was at
best a neighborhood shopping center. The stationing of soldiers on the Common
during the Civil War led to extensive patronizing of shops in the Winter Street
region, and the growth of establishments in that area. The little Gilchrist
“general store” had to enlarge, while others in the region shared in the general
boom of that part of town. The Great Fire of 1872, which burned out most of
downtown Boston, brought more benefit than injury to this area. Gilchrist’s was
undamaged, as was Jordan’s, a little way southward; but older shopping areas
were hopelessly wiped out, so that shoppers coming in town were practically
forced to use the Winter Street neighborhood, which became the city’s main
center from then on. Gilchrist’s still occupies its original corner; diagonally
across is Jordan’s, now extended from its old location all the way to Summer
Street. A third corner at that crossing is occupied by the Filene store, which
has the distinction of containing the world’s first automatic bargain
basement―the one from which all others are copied. While the fourth corner is
the former Filene store―where it was before present building was put up.

*

One curious feature to be found occasionally with Boston streets is the arms on
some streets―branches which are considered part of the same street. The best
known of these is the arm of Mason Street that reaches to Tremont Street. It
was originally part of Avery Street before that passageway was straightened
out. There is also such an arm on Battery-march Street, connecting with Broad
Street. Numerous other cases can be found in the suburbs. The type of
phenomenon is almost unknown in other cities.

*

The hottest day on record was July 4, 1911, when the official temperature
reached 104. On Washington Street, in front of Thompson’s Spa, the thermometer
registered 116. But such is the remarkable resiliency of New England weather
that within two hours the temperature had dropped to 60. Our good old East Wind
came to the rescue.

*

Recently, in an article on the come-back of the horse in Boston, we mentioned a
national magazine printing a photo of horse cabs waiting for passengers at
Trinity Place Station, and asked the readers what was wrong with the picture.
Did you guess that one? It should be obvious. Trinity Place Station is
exclusively for outbound trains.

*

Trinity Church was on the
site of Filene’s before the Great Fire of 1872. Its ruins stood out after the
Fire among the leveled remains of the burned district.